In this report, ESCAP explores the future of urbanization in Asia and the Pacific, focusing on the dynamic shifts in the region’s urban landscape. It highlights the region’s demographic transformations, including population ageing, and the persistent challenges of urban poverty and inequality. The analysis covers urban areas of all sizes, …
The pandemic has thrown into stark relief the global battle of cities for cleaner air and a better future. The 2021 edition of REN21’s Renewables in Cities Global Status Report, the only stocktaking of cities’ energy transition efforts worldwide, shows that one billion people live in cities with a renewable …
National governments can spur COVID-19 recovery, achieve shared prosperity and drive climate action through national policies and targeted investments to decarbonise cities and make them more resilient. This report shows the power of urban transformation and the many ways to achieve it by looking up close at six major emerging …
This report sets the stage to explore the mandate and capacities of National Development Banks in accelerating financing for local governments’ climate-smart urban infrastructure. Infrastructure financing needs have been estimated at USD 4.1-4.3 trillion per year from 2015 to 2030. An additional USD 0.4-1.1 trillion per year is required in …
Across Asia, cities are contending with a wide range of food-related issues but most lack a dedicated or coherent set of food policies. For most cities in Asia, food has been a policy and governance blind spot, while national food policy has distinctly lacked an urban perspective. Arguing that food …
This brief examines access to clean cooking energy, specifically across urban slum households in six Indian states - Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Urban slums suffer from the double burden of pollution. They are exposed to the high ambient particulate matter pollution of cities and the …
The rankings under Ease of Living Index 2020 were announced for cities with a population of more than a million, and cities with less than a million people. 111 cities participated in the assessment exercise that was conducted in 2020. The analysis categorises them into Million+ populated cities (those with …
The Municipal Performance Index (MPI) was launched as an accompaniment to the Ease of Living Index. It seeks to examine local government practice in municipalities across areas of services, finance, policy, technology and governance. It seeks to simplify and evaluate the complexities in local governance practice and promote the ethos …
This report provides more detailed information and guidance on how to design and deliver a community-based, participatory process for project implementation. This Part equips the reader with an understanding of the tools and techniques that can foster meaningful participation of settlement residents, as well as government, industry and service provider …
This Report provides an overview of the technical and design considerations of water-sensitive technologies for urban informal settlements with a core design goal to reduce exposure of residents to faecal contamination. The Report details the components and design standards of the suite of potential nature-based technologies across seven strategies: blackwater, …
In past 5 years since the last report on inventorisation of STPs was released in 2015, substantial sewage treatment capacities have been added. However, still a vast gap remains in sewage generation and treatment capacities. Through this report on "National Inventory of Sewage Treatment Plants in India - 2021", attempts …
The compounding effects of climate change will drive migration flows over the coming decades. Migration and climate change both transcend city boundaries and influence not only cities’ but also regional, national and international resilience. City leaders are seeing these transcendental and interrelated forces play out in their cities and taking …
The climate in Somalia is projected to become drier, warmer, more erratic, and more extreme than in recent decades and thus less favourable to crop, livestock, fisheries, and forestry-based livelihood systems. Other likely impacts include reduction of vegetation for grazing and more variable water availability, with grave impacts on livestock …
The India Energy Outlook 2021 is a new special report from the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook series. The report explores the opportunities and challenges ahead for India as it seeks to ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to a growing population. The report examines pathways out of the …
This publication showcases how ADB and the Government of Rajasthan have partnered together to bring sustainable development to the cities and towns of Rajasthan, in northwest India. Since 1998, the Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Development Project (RUIDP), extensive work has been undertaken to address urban challenges such as widespread poverty, inadequate …
This brief examines the importance of peri-urban ecosystems and outlines possible policy responses in India to preserve and manage these areas to contribute to sustainable and climate-resilient development. While the brief provides a general overview of peri-urban areas in India, acknowledge that approaches to these areas need to be sensitive …
A new report shows that Cape Town’s rivers, vleis and estuaries have been getting worse for 40 years, with the exception of a few years. In the rivers the problem is mostly E.coli which is a bacteria found in faeces. In the vleis and estuaries the problem is mostly phosphate. …
This policy brief examines the various socioeconomic dimensions of internal migration and reviews its inherent relationship with development, especially with regard to urbanization policies. Short-distance migrants compose a significant share of all internal migrants in India. Most are engaged in temporary and seasonal movements and hail from poor and marginalized …
Food for cities in Africa is changing under the triple effect of growth demography, urbanization and transformations in agricultural production and trade. These changes create risks: African cities increasingly face the challenges of undernutrition and malnutrition. But they also generate new opportunities: the economy food is the continent’s main source …
With 1.2 million respondents, the Peoples' Climate Vote is the largest survey of public opinion on climate change ever conducted. Using a new and unconventional approach to polling, results span 50 countries covering 56% of the world's population. The Peoples' Climate Vote is a pillar of the Mission 1.5 campaign …
NITI Aayog released a book on faecal sludge and septage management in urban areas. Jointly developed with National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (NFSSM) Alliance, the book presents 27 case studies across 10 states and various service and business models adopted by Indian cities while implementing faecal sludge and septage …
